Pokémon Organized Play has reviewed and made significant updates to the rules and regulations that govern Play! Pokémon activities. These rules have been reorganized into new documents that will hopefully make it easier to find the information you’re looking for. It’s important that all players and Professors familiarize themselves with the updates in these documents.
The Play! Pokémon rules now comprise four documents:
Play! Pokémon Tournament Rules Handbook—a comprehensive guide to the rules, procedures, and policies in place at Play! Pokémon tournaments.
Play! Pokémon League Rules Handbook—the primary resource for League Owners and League Leaders when it comes to the rules and best practices of running a Pokémon League.
Play! Pokémon Standards of Conduct—expectations of behavior to which all attendees at Play! Pokémon events must adhere.
Play! Pokémon VG Rules, Formats & Penalty Guidelines—this will be incorporated into the Tournament Rules Handbook in time.
Additionally, the Play! Pokémon Rules & Resources page has been reformatted for easier navigation.
All versions of the Play! Pokémon General Event Rules, Play! Pokémon TCG Rules and Formats, Pokémon TCG Penalty Guidelines, Sanctioning Regulations, Tournament Operation Procedures, and League Rules and Guidance are now outdated, and will not be used going forward.
We'll continue to follow the events of the season and review the documents at regular intervals. Check back here at Pokemon.com for notices of when documents have been updated.
Good luck, Trainers!